SA urged to break Israel ties

Politics / 22 July 2014, 8:31pm

SAPA

Johannesburg - The South African government should recall its ambassador to Israel and expel Israel's ambassador, Palestine Solidarity Alliance, the Muslim Students Union Association, and Media Review Network said on Tuesday.

“As a democratic and constitutional state, the South African government cannot stand by as the atrocities [in Gaza] continue,” they said in a joint statement.

“We therefore call on our government to show urgent political will and to take immediate action.”

The three organisations called on South Africa to stand firm in its resolve to support the Palestinian struggle for self-determination.

Israel should lift the “siege on Gaza” and remove all checkpoints, open the Rafah border post to allow movement in and out of Gaza, and immediately end all settlement projects.

Palestinian fisherman also needed to be allowed to fish in waters off the Gaza coast.

They said the life-threatening occupation of Gaza and Palestine was a grave offence under international law.

“It is further clear that Israel has not been bona fide in any negotiation with the Palestinians and continues to expand settlements which have already been declared illegal under international law,” they said.